Cecilia Breslin and Arlene Munroe, both aged 48 and from Erdington, lost weight after taking up military style workouts at New Hall Valley Boot Camp in Sutton Coldfield.

The camp at the country park, run by personal trainers, focuses on outdoor activities no matter what the weather.

Cecilia, who has lost three stone and dropped two dress sizes to a 12/14 since last April, said: “We start with a 1,000 metre run then we spend the middle section doing push-ups, sit ups, squats then we do a mile-and-a-half run. People think of boot camps as being really tough and military style and it does sound rigorous but while it is hard work it’s also really fun. The trainers assess you personally and give you a programme based on your fitness level.

“I have been to gyms before and the problem is that I don’t push myself as much as I should and whether its hail, rain or shine you have to get out there, no excuses.”

The mum-of-two said boot camp had helped her in her job as a holistic health coach as she runs group sessions for people who want to lose weight. She added: “I wasn’t very fit before and to a certain point my job is about image so it has really helped. Losing weight has given me my life back.”

Arlene, a lecturer in midwifery, said boot camp had now become a permanent part of her weekly routine.

She said: “I didn’t feel motivated when I did exercise classes or went to the gym.

“With boot camp at first I thought I was going to collapse after running a few metres but then it got better and I can run for a mile-and-a-half without stopping. I have lost two stone and dropped from a size 22 to a size 18. I am aiming to drop one more size but I feel normal now and I can go into normal shops. Boot camp is great so long as you don’t mind getting wet from time to time.”

The pair, who met through mutual friends, say boot camp has boosted their confidence in social circles.

Pete Colston, who runs the camp at locations across Sutton with Bob Whitby, said: “For people who want to get fitter, there are many options but many good intentions fail due to lack of motivation to go running alone or boredom of gyms. Some people overcome this by getting a personal trainer but this incurs greater expense so our aim with boot camp is to bridge that gap.”